Method and apparatus for selecting right and left circuit configurations of hearing assistance devices

Abstract

This disclosure relates to method and apparatus for selecting right and left configurations of hearing assistance device circuits, such as battery polarity. In various applications the present subject matter is applicable to a flexible circuit in hearing assistance devices, including but not limited to hearing aids. In one example, a printed circuit board is configured during manufacture to be used in either a left or a right hearing assistance device. The printed circuit board includes a solder selectable portion to provide for selection of left or right during assembly of the hearing assistance device, according to various embodiments.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A custom hearing aid device, comprising:
 a printed circuit board manufactured to be configured for the hearing aid device in either a left ear or a right ear of a wearer of the hearing aid device, the printed circuit board including a solder selectable portion to provide for battery polarity selection for the printed circuit board during assembly for left or right configuration of the hearing aid device, wherein the left configuration is selected via said solder selectable portion to yield an opposite battery polarity from the right configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The hearing aid device of  claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board includes a flexible circuit. 
     
     
       3. The hearing aid device of  claim 1 , wherein the solder selectable portion includes a jumper finger. 
     
     
       4. The hearing aid device of  claim 1 , wherein the solder selectable portion includes a first portion that can be soldered to select a first polarity configuration of a battery of the hearing aid device and a second portion that can be soldered to select a second polarity configuration of the battery of the hearing aid device. 
     
     
       5. The hearing aid device of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have contacts of a circular shape. 
     
     
       6. The hearing aid device of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have contacts of a crescent shape. 
     
     
       7. The hearing aid device of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have contacts of a square shape. 
     
     
       8. The hearing aid device of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid device includes a cochlear implant. 
     
     
       9. The hearing aid device of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid device is a hearing aid. 
     
     
       10. The hearing aid device of  claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. 
     
     
       11. The hearing aid device of  claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid. 
     
     
       12. The hearing aid device of  claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid. 
     
     
       13. The hearing aid device of  claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid. 
     
     
       14. A printed circuit board manufactured to be configured for either a left custom hearing aid device or a right custom hearing aid device, the printed circuit board comprising:
 a solder selectable portion configured to provide for battery polarity selection for left or right configuration for the printed circuit board during assembly of the hearing aid device, the solder selectable portion including:
 a first portion adapted to be soldered to select a left hearing aid device; and a second portion adapted to be soldered to select a right hearing aid device, wherein the left configuration is selected via said solder selectable portion to yield an opposite battery polarity from the right configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The printed circuit board of  claim 14 , wherein the printed circuit board includes a flexible circuit. 
     
     
       16. The printed circuit board of  claim 14 , wherein the solder selectable portion includes a jumper finger. 
     
     
       17. The printed circuit board of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have circular shaped contacts. 
     
     
       18. The printed circuit board of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have crescent shaped contacts. 
     
     
       19. The printed circuit board of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have square shaped contacts. 
     
     
       20. The printed circuit board of  claim 14 , wherein the solder selectable portion is adapted to be screen printed for selection of left or right hearing aid device.